Hernia bandage for infants



. REAM.

HERNIA BANDAGE FOR INFANTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, $920.

Patented Jan. 31, 1922.

YITED HERNIA BANDAGE ron INFANTS.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. BEAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Spring Valley, in the county of Bureau and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in a Hernia Bandage for Infants; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The common umbilical hernia is a source of much annoyance. It is much more common in females than in males, especially in those poorly nourished and rachitic. The tumor is usually one-fourth to one-half inch in diameter it may, however, be very large, and even become strangulated, when a surgical operation becomes necessary. The ordinary cases, however, require only mechanical treatment. The most important thing is prevention. sary, after the cord is separated, to place a firm pad over the navel and to use a snug abdominal band for the first few months.

This invention relates to an improved type of herniabandage for infants adapted for the prevention or cure of umbilical hernia.

It is an object of the invention to provide a hernia bandage which will not become displaced from its proper position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bandage whichdoes not need to be applied so tightly as to restrict the respiration of, or Work other damage tothe child.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bandage which can be easily applied and renewed in case it becomes wet or soiled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable bandage adapted to 0011 form to any size of infant. e

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and drawin s.

The invention (in a pre erred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of a child wearcr the improved bandage.

Tigure 2 is an elevation of the bandage itself.

Specification of Letters Patent.

oped a fabric which will not For this purpose it is neces- Patented Jan. 31,. i922.v

Application filed May 14, 1920. Serial No. 381,359.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing a slight modification.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2. 1 As shown on the drawings: The entire bandage is in one part, consisting essentially of a childs ordinary ribbed undershirt 5, which, as is well known,

will stretch-or give in a direction transverse to the r1bs thereof. This shlrt is reinforced 111 front by knittlng integral therewith,

sometimes called an overknit, which is 50 applied that it prevents stretching in'the aforesaid direction. Thus there is develyield to any substantial degree in its plane.

This reinforced fabric is continued in a tab or strip 9 extending from one side of the shirt and of suflicient length to go around the back of the child. and to overlap the front portionas shown at 10 in Figure 1.

The shirt is provided with shoulder straps 7 and tabs 8 which'will keep it in position; the tabs 8 being secured by pins 12 to the dlapers l3. It is seen that by this means, the bandage is positively prevented from sidewise or upward displacement.

The modification shown in Figure 3 is devised for older children or even "adults. The strings (Jr-tapes 11 are secured to the tabs 8 and are passed beneath'the crotch of the wearer and then tied in place, in lieu of diapers.

It is seen that there is hereby provided a practical bandage for the prevention and cure of umbilical hernia, especially in in- .fants, which is a great improvement over of small umbilical herniee after the hernia has been reduced, this improved bandage acts as a truss and will cure a large number of the cases if the hernia is kept reduced and the band in place for a suficient length of time.

The ordinary band whenused, first, slips around the body, also up from the abdomen over the chest, and it rolls up from below.

The ordinary band is made of a material that will give, that is, stretch in one or more directions, and thus is worthless as protection against hernia.

In the use of this band, the double thickness of knit in this garment takes the place as regards warmth of the band and the binder. During the first three weeks, this band maybe applied over the ordinary belly band in order to prevent it from slipping and reinforce it, also the belly band does not have to beapplied so tightly. After the first three weeks, when the belly band is removed, it has been found to be absolute protection against umbilical hernia from any of the above mentioned causes.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

Ijolaim as my invention:

A knitted ribbed undershirt, an overknit reinforcement integral with the front of the shirt and extending from the lower edge thereof to above the Wearers umblllcus, the

'ribs of the reinforcement being at an angle and behind by which the garment may be secured against upward movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

' C. N. HoLLnRIoH,

CATHERINE MoCALLUM.

WALTER JQREAM. 

